Multiplayer
One area that is very disappointing in European Assault is that there is no online multiplayer. There are offline splitscreen modes for up to four people, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that it is a new FPS on the Xbox and it doesn’t have Xbox Live play. The modes on offer include deathmatch and objective-based games, but they are pretty run-of-the-mill. I won’t complain too much, though. It is better than nothing and somewhat makes up for the short single-player campaign.Graphics
Graphically, European Assault is a mixed bag. At times it is stunning and at others it is surprisingly average. The environments are well designed and look good and the special effects for gunfire and explosions and everything else look good, but the character models are blocky and lack detail. The game runs at a smooth framerate even in the heat of battle, which is a plus.
Sound
As we have come to expect from the Medal of Honor series, the sound is exceptional in European Assault. The weapons all sound very loud and realistic and a great musical score highlights the highs and the lows of battle and gives the game an epic feel. The voice acting is also very well done.Bottom Line
If you are looking for a new WWII shooter on the Xbox, Medal of Honor: European Assault is a solid game that is worth playing. I have a few issues with it, though. It doesn’t pack nearly the emotional punch of Brothers in Arms and I think that at this point a WWII game should strive to be more than just another shooter with some Nazis thrown in. Another major issue is that the single-player campaign can be completed in less than eight hours and there isn’t any Xbox Live modes to extend the life of the game. Once you play through it once and play a couple of splitscreen matches with a friend you will likely never pick it up again. So, overall, European Assault is a solid game that is fun while it lasts, but it isn’t a very good value so it is hard to recommend for a purchase at full price. Rent it.
